A momentary meeting with Michael Ondaatje

Michael Ondaatje, Booker Prize-winning author of The English Patient, In the Skin of a Lion and a memoir on life in Sri Lanka, Running in the Family, as well as poetry anthologies and a volume on film editing, apparently does not give interviews.

However, the Sri Lankan-Canadian writer spoke briefly to about a dozen reporters and freelance writers on Saturday, Oct. 8, during the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2005.

Following a discussion that morning on his life and work, Ondaatje arrived at the Indus cafe and restaurant with wind-blown hair, twinkling eyes and a large bag slung over one shoulder, staying for almost 30 minutes before running to catch another event.

Below is an excerpt from the meeting.

-- Chisato Hara

Question: What was your reaction to the bombings of Oct. 1, and did you consider not coming to Bali?

Answer: Well, I was on a plane when the bombings happened, and I didn't hear about it until I landed in Singapore. ...I learned the festival was going ahead, so I came.

Is this your first time to Bali?

Yes, it is.

What do you think about Bali?

I never trust people who come to a country and after three days, have an opinion about it.

Could you describe your ethnic background?

I'm one of those "mongrels" ... like some of the most interesting writers of today. I probably have some Singarese, Tamil, Dutch and German in me. ...People like us are a common mixture (now) ... I believe we're a real sign of the times, and the only way to break down the one-dimensional perception -- cliches -- of the world.

How would you define your cultural orientation?

Well, I take everything I can, wherever I am.

I was born in Sri Lanka, went to school for about eight years in England. But I was reborn in Canada -- I was given an opportunity, and became a writer. This wouldn't have happened if I'd stayed in Sri Lanka.

So where do you call home?

Probably Canada. (Although) I still have family in Sri Lanka and try to visit as much as possible.

What is your writing regimen?

I try and write full time. I need the discipline...

What was the main trigger for creating The English Patient?

I wrote it backward. I saw a scene in my head, of a sick man in bed talking to a nurse, and wanted to find out who this man was, who was this nurse, and what they were talking about. The story developed (in reverse) with ... little pieces of crystal.

Hana (the nurse) first appeared in In the Skin of a Lion. Did you not intend to write a "sequel" about her?

No, I did not have Hana in mind. The nurse "became" Hana. And Caravaggio, too (from Lion), turned up in the story.

I don't particularly like the idea of sequels ... I don't want to get lazy in terms of character development.

For example, Kip (the Sikh sapper in Patient) didn't even exist until I was almost halfway through the book. I just knew I would have a bomb diffuser from the very beginning ... and wouldn't it be neat, I could learn about diffusing bombs, too.

Your novels tend to have a lot of damaged characters. Is this intentional?

You know, I was starting to wonder about that. ...I don't know what it is.

You generally have strong female characters. What is your attitude/approach toward women?

I'd say it's very positive. ...I just think it's better to have strong, interesting female characters than weak, uninteresting ones, wouldn't you? What do you think of the idea that novels should have a message?

All novels have a message without announcing it ... and everything is political, even novels.

Who is your favorite author?

[After some thought] ...I like the "peace" sections in War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy) ... and I have a lot of books on architecture in Asia...

What do you think about the Harry Potter mania?

Young people are reading 400-page novels. The main thing is that they are reading.

What are you working on now?

A novel -- and, no clues.

Not even a hint?

No clues.